Feeding mechanism for feed-cup machines



Oct. 5 1926.

J. R. MOFFATT FEEDING MECHANISM FOR F ED CUP MACHINES Filed May 9 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jwwnlod Gum megs 1,602,038 J. R. MOFFATT FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FEE]; CUP MACHINES Filed May 9 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 5 1926.

Patented st. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES'R. MOFFATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed May a,

The invention relates to new and, useful improvements in feeding mechanism for sewing machines, and more particularly to a feeding mechanism for a cup feed machine, that is, a machine having inner and outer feed Wheels which support and feed the fabric being stitched to the stitching mechanism. The machine is particularly adapted for seaming stockings. 1

An object of the-invention is to provide feeding mechanism whereby the upper feed wheel may be positively and directly driven by intermittently actuated clutch mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism of the above type for operating the outer feed wheel which is supported from above so as to give free access beneath the feed wheel to the fabric being stitched.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed. V

In the drawings which show illustration one embodiment of the inven-' tion Figure 1 is a side View of a machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof machine, and

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation a portion of the and partly in section showing theactuating mechanism for the outer feed wheel.

In the drawings I have shown the invention as applied to a cup feed machine of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,246,- 302, granted November 13, 1917. p This ma chine includes a supporting casing 1 in which is mounted a main shaft 2. Also mounted to reciprocate in the casing is a needle bar carrying a needle 3. Cooperating with the needle 3 is a looper 4, which ,looper is so.

. mounted and actuated as to cooperate with said needle in forming over-seaming stitches.

r The material is held in a vertical position.

7 and directed to the needle which reciprocates in a horizontal line by feed cups 5 and 6.

The feed cup 5 is carried a shaft mounted,

in a suitable supporting bearing 7 and actuated by a clutch which .is intermittently operated by an arm Scarried by a shaft 9 which in turn carries an arm 10. A link 11 engages the arm and cooperates with a lever which is oscillated by means of an 6C1 centric on the main shaft 2. The above by way of y with the rim during the feed stroke;

1923. Serial No. 637,708.

parts are similar to those shown in my prior patent, and furtherdescription thereof is not thought necessary.

The outer feed cup 6 is journaled in a sleeve bearing 12 which is mounted in an arm 13. Secured to the casing 1 is an arm 14:. Said arm is provided'with slots through which screws 15, 15 pass for securing the arm inadjusted positions. Said arm 14 has spaced sleeves 16, 16 formed integral there with. 1

The arm 13 16, 16 andis mounted on a pivot pin 17 which passes through the sleeves. Said arm 137is rigidly secured to the pivot pin 17. On the outer end of the pivot pin 17 there is a lever arm 18 which is adapted to be connected to a treadle. A spring 19 bearing against the under face of the lever arm 18 normally raises the same. V

The feed cup 6 is carried by a shaft 20 which extends upwardly through the sleeve bearing 12.. On the upper end of this shaft and directly secured thereto is a. clutch cup 21 having a rim portion 22. A series of clutch dogs 23 are each-provided witha slot adapted to extend over said rim portion 22. These clutch dogs at their inner ends are seated in'recesses 24 formed in a sleeve 25. The sleeve 25 is secured to a disk member 26 which carries a projecting arm 27. Springs 28 bear against the clutch members 23 and normally hold said clutch members out .of gripping connection with the rim 22. When the-disk is turned, the inner ends of these clutch members 23 will be moved so as to cause the clutch members to grip the rimstud carried by the arm 31 is adjustable.

radially of theshaft 9, and thus it is that the throw of the, feed wheelmay be varied, Retrograde movement of the feed wheel is prevented by means of a holding clutch member 32. Said holding clutch member is provided with a slot fitting down over the rim 22. A spring 33' bearing on V the holding clutch member normally holds it out of engagement A plate 34:"engages said holding clutch member so as to cause it to bind, on ,therim, and

is located between these sleeves prevent backward or retrograde movement of the rim 22 and the shaft to which itis' connected. An arm 35 clamped to the sleeve 12 serves as a supporting means for the plate 34:, and the parts associated therewith.

It will be. noted in Fig. 1 that the link 28 is provided with ballstud connections to the parts associated therewith. This permits the arm 13 carrying the sleeve 12 to be moved when the lever arm 18 is depressed, and thus the feed cups separatedfor therpurpose of inserting the material. Stops 3G- limit the movement of the arm=13.

From the above it will beapparent thatI haveprovidedmeans for operating the outer feed cupwherein said clutch member which rotates the outer feed cup is directly mounted on: the shaft carrying the feed cup; There are no intervening parts which willproduce a drag on the: easy turning movement of the feed cup or cause any improper movements: thereof. In high speed machineslike sewing machines, it isimportant to do away with as many of the intermediate connections as possible and to have a positive 'drive' for all theactuated parts. I have been able by mv' improved structure to insure a positive intermittent grip drivewhich directly connects with a member rigid on the outer feed cupv This greatly simplifies the: structure and renders themachine very much more efficient.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, 1s

1. A sewing machine lncluding in combination a supporting casing, a horizontally reciprocating needle mounted thereon, inner and outer horizontally disposed feed wheels for supporting and feedins a fabric to said needle, a movable bracket carried by said" casing, a vertically disposed shaft mounted in said bracket and on the lower end of which said outer feed wheel is mounted, a clutch cup rigidly secured to the upper end of said shaft, and means cooperating with said clutch cup for intermittently rotating the shaft. 7

2. A sewii machine including in combination a supporting casing, a horizontally reciprocating needle mounted therein, inner and outer horizontally disposed feed wheels reciprocating needle mounted therein-,- inner: and outer horizontally" disposed feed wheels for supporting and feedinga fabric to said needle; a back bracket pivotally supported on said casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said bracket and on the lower end of which said outer feed Wheel is mounted, a clutch cup' at the upper end of said shaft, and means cooperating with said clutch cup for intermittently rotating said shaft.

f. A sewing machine including in combination a supporting casing, ahorizontally reciprocating needle mounted'therein, inner and ot'iterhorizontal ly disposed feed wheels for supporting and'feeding a fabric to said needle, a back bracket pivotally supported on said casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said bracket and on the-lower end of-which said outer feed wheel is mounted, a clutch cup at theupper end of saidshaft, means cooperating with said clutch cup for intermittently rotating said shaft, means whereby said-bracket may be swung on its pivot for moving theouter feed wheel toward and from the inner feed wheel, and a'sp'ring for normally holding said feed wheels in acoperative relation to support the fabric.

5. A sewing machine including in combination, a supporting casing, a horizontally reciprocating needle mounted therein, inner and outer horizontally disposed feed wheels for supporting and feeding a fabric to said needle, a movable bracket, a vertical shaft mounted in. said bracket on the lower end of which the outer feed wheel is mounted, a clutch cup on the upper end of said shaft, a second vertical shaft carried by the casing, means for oscillating said second shaft, and a link connected to said second shaft and to devices associated with said clutch cup for intermittently rotating the vertical shaft carrying the feed wheel.

6. A sewing machine including in combination, a siipporting-casing, a horizontally reciprocatingneedle mounted therein, inner and outer horizontally disposed feed wheels for supporting and feeding a fabric to said needle, a mo'va-ble bracket, a vertical shaft mounted in sai'd'bracket on thelower end of which the outer feed'wheel is mounted, a

clutch cup on the upper endof said shaft,

a second vertical shaft carried by the casing, means for oscillatingsaid: second shaft, and allnk connected to said second shaft'and to devices associated with said clutch can for intermittently rotating the" vertical shaft carrying tie feed-wheel, said link having an adjustable connection with the second shaft'whereby the throw of the outer feed wheel may be varied.

z. A setting:- machine including in combination, a supporting casing, a horizontally reciprocating needle mounted therein, inner andouter horizontally disposed feed wheels for" supporti 7 need-1e, a movable bracket, avertical shaft mountedin said bracket; on the lower endof and. feeding a fabric to said;

which the outer feed Wheel is mounted, a clutch cup on the upper end of said shaft, a second vertical shaft carried by the casing, means for oscillating said second shaft, a link connected to said second shaft and to devices associated with said clutch cup for intermittently rotating the vertical shaft carrying the feed wheel, said link having an adjustable connection with the second shaft whereby the throw of the outer feed 10 wheel may be varied, and means actuated y from said second shaft for intermittently operating said inner feed wheel.

In testimony whereof, I afl lX my signature.

JAMES R: MOFFATT. 

